Yusuf Eristi was one of 12 people reportedly detained by police in Istanbul on 13 and 14 March 1991 during an operation against illegal organizations. The twelve were taken to the Political Branch of Istanbul Police Headquarters where, they allege, they were tortured. On 27 March, 11 of the twelve were eventually brought before a judge who formally arrested seven and committed them to prison, releasing the remaining four. The seven now in prison have alleged that they heard Yusuf Eristi being tortured and also that they overheard a conversation among police officers from which they concluded that Yusuf Eristi had been killed.
